CLINTONVILLE, WI- The Clintonville School Board will hold an special school board meeting on Monday to further discuss the masking decision they made this week.

On Monday, the school board voted to make masking optional for Middle School and High School students and staff, but required for Elementary School students and staff.

“Not only did school board members start receiving emails and phone calls, but I did as well,” explained Superintendent Troy Kuhn. “The administration recommended the original plan of optional masking, and that was not what transpired with the board, so people just wanted a chance to be heard.

Kuhn says he feels the board voted to require masking for elementary school students because they are not able to receive a vaccine as of late, but said that is not the only reason why.

“They have to learn about hygiene more at that age and learn more about being clean as well, but the lack of opportunity to be vaccinated was a big reason why.”

Kuhn says the board will have the ultimate say as to if they change course or not.

“We are prepared for anything that the board decides,” Kuhn said.

He added that other districts in the area and districts that are similar size are going with optional masking.

“When I meet with other superintendents, our concern is how bad is it going to be for children when the Delta variant gets here?”

Kuhn says he plans to get the latest health information before Monday’s meeting.

He says the superintendents in Waupaca County are trying to avoid pitting one school district against another.

“In the days of open enrollment and school choice, a lot can happen when decisions are made.”

One other factor in the decision to hold a meeting on Monday is that school starts in the Clintonville School District next week.

“We start on Monday with orientation day and the first day of school for 4K and Kindergarten and all students are in starting Tuesday.”

Clintonville is starting early so that they can get out two weeks earlier at the end of year to start the summer construction phase for their school referendum project.

“Construction wise, that will be a positive, but it forces us to lay out plans sooner than everyone else.

The rest of the area schools are starting about two weeks later.

Kuhn says that he and school board have the ability to immediately change plans if need be, but did confirm that the Elementary School persons are required to mask on Monday. If the school board changes direction on Monday night, that would go into effect for all Elementary School students and staff on Tuesday.

Below is the entire back to school health plan approved Monday night.

https://docs.google.com/…/13jyPC8wfzhNaFKyZsKLDtJc…/edit